One in Three UK Nightclubs Could Close By The End of 2022

One in three UK nightclubs will close by the end of 2022, according to recent figures from the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA). Nightclub shutters have accelerated from one in five during the pandemic as the closing rate hiked to one every two days amid soaring inflation and rising running costs. 

NTIA figures further revealed that the curtain fell for 123 UK nightclubs in the past nine months, meaning that 14 nightlife hubs close monthly. The rate is higher than the period covering all COVID-19 lockdowns, as 255 nightclubs were lost from December 2019 to December 2021.

At the moment, there are 1,068 running nightclubs in the UK – a 26.14% decrease compared to pre-pandemic times.

As the UK lost more than a quarter of music temples at the hands of inflation, high energy costs, and COVID-19’s financial impact, the NTIA predicted the current trajectory saying that by the end of 2022, a third of UK nightclubs will disappear. 

Michael Kill, the trade body’s CEO, said that “the Government is ripping the heart out of nightlife” as the “inflationary circle is taking its toll on our sector with businesses trading 15% down across the board, costs up over 30% taking the shine off the golden quarter.”

“Independent nightclubs across the UK are fighting to survive, managing cashflow on a day by day basis, waiting on a budget which has failed them twice before.”

Kill said it was “a huge tragedy for UK culture seeing nightclubs in decline,” calling for the government to reinstate a freeze on alcohol duty, extend business rates relief and reduce VAT.